Mark 10:46-5246And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. (Mark 10:46‑52).
WHAT a sad affliction for anyone to be blind! I am sure if any of us have good eye-sight, we can imagine what a terrible loss it would be to have it taken away. Well when Jesus was going out of Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd of people, He passed by where there was a poor blind man begging by the wayside.
This blind beggar evidently had heard about Jesus, and how He could open people’s eyes who were blind, and as Jesus was passing by he cried out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” People tried to make him be still, but he only cried the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” Do you wonder that he cried out in this way, if he thought Jesus could open his eyes? No, I think we would have done the same thing, if we had been in his place.
Well, Jesus stopped on the way, and told them to call him. Then they called him, and said, “Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.” Do you think the man was slow to answer that call? No, he threw aside his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. He made all possible speed. Jesus then asked him what he wanted, and the man prayed that he might receive his sight. “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
Now, dear children, if you have not yet received Jesus as your Saviour, you have a greater need than blind Bartimeus. You are spiritually blind, and lost too. You need to have your spiritual eyes opened, and you need to be saved. Now, do you not think Jesus is just as ready to meet your need, as He was to meet the need of the blind beggar? Yes, just as ready. He has died that you might have salvation; and if you turn to Him, as Bartimeus did, He will save you just’ as quickly as He opened the beggars eyes. And then you will rejoice in being able to see with the eye of faith, and to follow Jesus in the way.
ML 05/04/1902